To give those who can't travel to Bethesda, Maryland to see it in person a lively virtual experience, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) announces a new, free iPad app that captures the contents of its popular exhibition, Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/index.html), currently on display. NLM is the world's largest medical library and a component of the National Institutes of Health.

The app lets users explore video interviews with tribal elders, healers and other prominent people who practice traditional medicine, Western medicine or a combination of both. From their unique experiences and perspectives, they weave a tapestry of stories of the vibrant and diverse cultures of and medicine ways practiced by Alaska Natives, Native Americans and Native Hawaiians. Other video clips provide an exhibition overview and highlights of the 4,400-mile journey of a totem pole specially crafted for the exhibition, from Washington state to the NIH campus in Bethesda.

In addition to content from Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness, the app contains an "About NLM" feature, which allows public to get information about the National Library of Medicine and also learn how to "Visit NLM" and "Connect with NLM" via social media outlets.

Images:

The splash page for the NLM Native Voices app shows the exhibition logo and four of the featured interview subjects.

NLM Director Dr. Donald A.B. Lindberg (top left) provides an overview of the Native Voices: Native Peoples' Concepts of Health and Illness exhibition on this main page, and app users can also explore rich content relating to five major themes: Individual, Community, Tradition, Healing and Nature.

Interviews on the NLM Native Voices app can be searched by key words, interviewee names or, as shown here, topic. The speakers pictured talk about the importance of individuals taking responsibility for their own health and the health of their communities.